The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-12-29
ELSIE'S VIOLETS.

.'Flower'sl Who'll buy my flowers?"
This was the timid cry of little girl
of about ten years of age, who. with a
basket of fragrant violets, was wan
dering up and down the streets of
large city in America. She was
pretty sight, with her large black
eyes and shining curls, and her poor
but neat dress.
81 do wish somebody would buy my
flowers; mamma will wonder why /
am away so long. Oh, here comes
sailor man, perhaps he will buy some."
And gathering up all her courage, she
went up to him and said, Don't you
Doubtless the sailors bright, CHEEKY
face had attracted the little one.
"Yes, my little girl; Fll take some of
your violets.
While she was choosing the punches
he said:
What is Your name, little girl? You
seem to be very young to be in the
streets alone.
My name is Elsie Graham. Mamma
is sick, so coaxed her to let me pick
some of our violets, and sell them, SO as
to make some money"
WELL" said the sailor, ''you are a
very good little girl to try and help
your mother along, and to help you,
l will take the rest of your flowers"
''Oh. thank you, sir; but l must
hurry home, mamma will be worried.
Goodbye, sailor-man."
Goodbye, my little dearie. God
bless the pretty little thing. She re-
minds me of my own little daughter, l
left at home twenty years ago. God
knows where she Is now"
.sOh! mamma, look at all the money
I've got!' With this exclamation
Elsie, our little flower girl bounded
into the room where her mother was
lying.
''Oh, Elsie, darling, are you back
safe? | have been so worried for fear
something would happen to me or
you
Yes, mamma, safe and sound, with
apocketful of money. and lots of good
things" said Elsie, putting her basket
down and kissing her mother.
''Just see, mamma, one dollar and
fifty cents, beside the good things in
the basket" said she, holding out the
money for her mother to see. "A nice
sailor-man bought all l had left, just
as it was getting so dark. | knew l
must come home, and wanted to sell
them all so much. Now, mamma, lie
still and rest, and III soon have good
supper ready for you.
After they had partaken of their SIM
pie evening meal, Elsie said, Mamma,
if you are not too tired, will you tell
me all about my sailor grandpa?"
III T Il fIc
girl, l lived in a village on the coast OF
England, and my father used to &c
away on long voyages. When 1 was
about ten years old, he went away or
a trip from which he would not return
in two years. My dear mother dreaded
to have him go-she knew the dangers
| of the sea and feared he might never
come home again. The evening ht
bade us goodbye. picked him some
of our violets, he put them in hi
buttonhole, and said he would keel
them always to remember his little
Elsie. My mother and stood at thu
door, and watched him until he wa
out of sight; then she took me in he
| arms, and wept the whole night Tha
| was the last time we ever saw him
| Ten wears passed, and we had received
no tidings. But one day a sailo
came, and told us that the vessel oil
which my father had sailed, had beel
lost at sea, and all on board hat
perished. After this sad news, mothe
seemed to pine away, and her on
desire was to go away from tn
cruel sea. l had been married t
your father in the meantime, and W
took her to the pretty little village @
E. There she died. Soon afte
YOU were born, dear. Then YOU
fatherh aving heard so much of Americ
induced me to come here. When W
arrived, we went to one of the larg
cities But l had never lived in tn
city, and kept pining for the country
so finally having saved enough money
he bought this little home. One c
the things which l had brought fror
our old home in England was som
roots of our violets. / planted som
in this little garden, and so we hav
had them ever since. We lived happil
enough until the day that your poo
father was brought home dead. Onl
think, just two years ago. Elsie, wha
. should / have done without my littl
sunbeam during that dark time? Br
for you would have been willing
die. Only for your sake. must liy
and struggle on. as best l can. Ol
my darling, it almost breaks my heal
to think that you must go in the stree
and earn Il living, while ! lie her
helpless" Overcome with feeling
which she could not control, the sic
woman's form shook with sobs.
Little Elsie tried to comfort h'
mother. saying: ''Oh, mamma dea
don't FRY. yoT have your little Elsi
and this nice house and garden"
"Yes, my pet. but how long shall y
be able to keep it? If don't get wei
we will be obliged to move to the cit
where | may find employment.
The next morning little Elsie was /
betimes gathering and arranging h
slender stock of fiowers. After ma
ing her mother comfortable, she starte
out with her basket on her arr
Either people were in "a hurry tn
morning, or they did not care fl
flowers, for our little flower gi
; walked around until afternoon, al
succeeded in finding but a few pu
chasers just as she was about
give up in despair, and go home, 81
spied her sailor acquaintance on tt
opposite corner, and she hurried aero
to speak to him. Hello, my hearty
said the old sailor, ''here you a
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